The following is the notice from
the DCR about the plan and
public input meetings. The DCR
had planned to announce the
initial results and
determinations from this whole
process back in August of 2006.
WE'RE STILL WAITING!
Massachusetts Department of
Conservation and Recreation
Off-Road Vehicles Working Group
Throughout the nation,
inappropriate off-road vehicle
(ORV) use presents a challenge
to land management agencies and
responsible ORV enthusiasts
alike, and Massachusetts is no
exception. Riding on poorly
designed or inadequately
maintained trails, or in
locations inherently unsuitable
for motorized trail use creates
problems for riders, land
managers, other trail users and
neighbors. DCR experiences its
share of ORV challenges on the
seven properties where it allows
motorized trail use. Recently,
DCR closed one of its riding
areas to ORV use after
deteriorating trail
conditions threatened both
public safety and environmental
health.
Before taking further action to
either replace this riding area
or further limit ORV riding
opportunities, DCR is setting
standards for any future ORV
trail development. To assist the
agency in that effort, a working
group composed of trails users,
scientists, land management
organizations and other
stakeholders has been assembled
to review and refine DCR’s ORV
use criteria. The working group
has three principal tasks:
* Review, refine and
recommend criteria for
evaluating existing ORV areas
and proposed areas for future
ORV use in Massachusetts.
* Review, refine and
recommend trail construction and
facility operation standards for
sustainable public ORV trails
and facilities in Massachusetts.
* Identify potential funding
sources for creating sustainable
ORV riding areas on private or
public lands.
The working group members
represent four broad categories:
trail users, environmental
scientists, state and federal
land management agencies, and
other community interests.
Trail Users: New England
Trail Rider Association;
Snowmobile Association of
Massachusetts; Appalachian
Mountain Club; Western Mass ATV
Association; and New England
Mountain Bike Association
Environmental Scientists:
The Nature Conservancy
;
Massachusetts Natural Heritage Program; University of
Massachusetts; Department of
Natural Resources Conservation
Land Management Agencies; U.S.
Forest Service
State Park and Recreation
Agencies: Connecticut State
Parks Division; Maine Bureau of
Parks and Lands; New Hampshire
Division of Parks and
Recreation; New Jersey Division
of Parks and Forests; New York
Office of Parks Recreation and
Historic Preservation; New York
Department of Environmental
Conservation; Pennsylvania
Bureau of State Parks; Rhode
Island Division of Parks and
Recreation; Vermont Department
of Forests, Parks and Recreation
Community Interests: MASS
EOEA Office of Law Enforcement;
Environmental League of
Massachusetts; National Off
Highway Vehicle Conservation
Council; Federal Highway
Administration, Massachusetts
Division.
The committee has completed its
first task of refining siteing
criteria, and DCR has scheduled
a series of public meetings
across the Commonwealth to hear
community views on the
recommended criteria. Following
the public comment process and
any resulting revisions, the
agency will begin the process of
applying the criteria to DCR
properties. The process could
lead to additional trail or site
closures or the identification
of areas where motorized trails
could be developed.
The committee has made some
recommendations regarding its
second task, recommending trail
construction standards. In
short, the committee has
recognized the need for trail
systems for motorized users
which offer properly designed,
well-constructed and
well-maintained trails. DCR is
currently reviewing ORV
specifications developed by the
U.S. Forest Service, the State
of Pennsylvania and other
agencies and organizations
offering ORV opportunities.
The committee has also
identified several potential
funding sources and management
models to help fund and manage
the type of opportunity
described above. Funding options
could include the federal
Recreational Trails Program,
user fees, a trail maintenance
sticker program and other
sources. The committee has also
explored the potential for an
ORV trail management concession
agreement to provide
consistent professional
management and operation of ORV
trail areas.
For further information
regarding the ORV working group,
please contact DCR’s Chief of
Recreation, Gary Briere at
617-626-1454 or
gary.briere@state.ma.us.
DCR Draft ver. 2 (Jan
9. 06)
Criteria for Evaluating
DCR or Other Properties
for ORV/ATV Use
All ORV (ATV and
Motorcycle) trail areas
on state-owned property
and or utilizing funding
from the Commonwealth
and or administered by
the Commonwealth shall
be evaluated by the
Department of
Conservation and
Recreation using a
2-step (coarse filter
and fine filter)
process.
Coarse Filter Process
Forests, parks or other
areas must be in
compliance with the
following six coarse
criteria to be
considered for
facility-specific ORV
trail development or
operation.
1) Motorized trail use
on the property must be
consistent with DCR’s
Statewide Recreation
Opportunity Policies and
Standards.
2) Motorized trail use
must be consistent with
the property's Baseline
(Phase 1) Resource
Management Plan and any
recommended Phase 2
Resource Management
Plans prepared for the
property."
3) All properties with
designated ORV trails
must have a baseline or
phase 2 resource
management plan
completed by 2010 .
4) No deed restrictions,
laws, or purchase
funding source
restrictions prohibit
the use of ORV’s on the
property.
5) Less than 50 percent
of the area being
considered for ORV use
may be composed of the
following types of areas
in combination ( DCR
will only consider
contained and contiguous
parcels of adequate size
to support an ORV trail
system and provide
adequate protection of
important resource
areas. If ORV use is
determined to be an
acceptable use that ORV
use may not occur within
these special areas
except as provided under
applicable regulations
or policies):
a) Priority Habitat as
identified by the
Massachusetts Natural
Heritage and Endangered
Species Program
b) Core Habitat as
identified on the MNHESP
Biomap and Living Waters
projectsWetland
resources protected
under the Code of
Massachusetts
Regulations (310 CMR
10).
c) Areas identified as
Zone 1 under DCR’s Land
Stewardship Zoning
classification
d) Forest Reserve Areas.
e) Areas designated
under the Areas of
Critical Environmental
Concern (ACEC) Program
f) Slopes in excess of
40%
g) Areas designated
under the DCR Wildlands
program
6) If it is to be a
self-contained trail
network, the property is
adequate to provide a
trail network of at
least 30 miles.
7) If it is to be a
trail corridor link, the
trails which are being
connected exist or will
exist when the trail
corridor link is
established, or shortly
thereafter.
Fine Filter Process ORV
areas that have passed
the coarse filter
criteria above shall be
eligible for further
analysis during a
planning and layout
phase. An ORV Facility
Management Plan for the
property must be
prepared which meets the
following fine filter
criteria.
Trail and Facility
Operation and Management
1) The ORV Facility
Management Plan must
address facility
operations needs
including funding,
budgeting and revenue
management; trail and
facility maintenance;
monitoring, enforcement,
and staffing.
2) The facility is
supported by an
organized ORV club or
organization whose
responsibilities are
established through a
Memorandum of Agreement
between the organization
and the Department.
3) The ORV Facility
Management Plan has been
reviewed by local
municipal public safety
personnel for public
safety and emergency
access considerations.
Trail and Facility
Design
1) The proposed trail
layout meets DCR
standards for trail
design, construction,
and maintenance
2) The proposed trail
layout does not violate
federal, state, or local
laws.
3) Trail and facility
design considers local
municipal planning and
zoning ordinances and
other local regulation.
4) The proposed trail
layout does not pass
through a parcel with
deed restrictions
regarding motorized
trail use.
5) The proposed trail
layout does not lead
users to private
property or utility
corridors unless
specific written
permission is on record
with the Department
6) The proposed trail
layout would not produce
excessive noise impacts
in adjacent residential
areas
7) The proposed trail
layout segregates
incompatible uses
8) Trail and facility
design provides for
adequate parking for the
amount and type of trail
and the number of
expected riders.
9) The proposed trail
layout incorporates
existing motorized off
road travel corridors
whenever possible.
10) The proposed trail
layout complies with
legal and public safety
requirements for safe
crossing of public ways,
roads or other trails.
Environmental & Resource
Protection
1) The proposed trail
layout does not
negatively impact
Priority Habitat as
identified by the
Massachusetts Natural
Heritage and Endangered
Species Program as
provided under
applicable regulations
or policies.
2) The proposed trail
layout does not
negatively impact Core
Habitat as identified on
the MNHESP Biomap and
Living Waters projects
as provided under
applicable regulations
or policies.
3) The proposed trail
layout is in compliance
with the Wetlands
Protection Act and Code
of Massachusetts
Regulations (310 CMR 10)
4) The proposed trail
layout complies with DCR
regulations and policies
for the protection of
areas classified as Zone
1 under DCR’s Land
Stewardship Zoning.
5) The proposed trail
layout complies with DCR
regulations and policies
for the protection of
Forest Reserves.
6) The proposed trail
layout does not
negatively impact
natural or cultural
resources protected
under the Areas of
Critical Environmental
Concern (ACEC) Program
as provided under
applicable regulations
or policies.
7) The proposed trail
layout complies with DCR
regulations and policies
for the protection of
areas designated as
Wildlands.
8) The proposed trail
layout minimizes further
fragmentation of blocks
of forestland by
locating trails on areas
with existing
development whenever
possible.
9) The proposed trail
layout complies with
Massachusetts
regulations and policies
for the protection of
wellheads as determined
by the Department of
Environmental
Protection.
10) The proposed trail
layout is not located on
earthen dams, dikes, and
spillways.
11) The proposed trail
layout avoids areas
having soil types
identified as restricted
for trail or road
development as defined
by the Natural Resources
Conservation Service,
unless there is an
existing soil condition
or surface roadway that
can be used to reduce
adverse environmental
impacts.
12) The proposed trail
layout avoids slopes in
excess of 30%.
13) The proposed trail
layout is in compliance
with federal, state, and
municipal regulations
protecting water
resources, wetlands and
vernal pools.
14) The proposed trail
layout avoids areas
protected under the
Berkshire Scenic
Mountains Act.
15) The proposed trail
layout avoids known
locations of federally
and state
listed endangered or
threatened species, or
their habitat, as
specified on a
site-specific basis by
the Natural Heritage and
Endangered Species
Program.
16) The proposed trail
layout avoids known
locations of rare plants
and exemplary natural
communities, as
specified on a
site-specific basis by
the Natural Heritage and
Endangered Species
program.
17) The proposed trail
layout avoids alteration
or disturbance of unique
geologic features,
formations, and
designated state
geologic waysides, as
specified on a
site-specific basis by
the state geologist.
18) The proposed trail
layout avoids
alteration, disturbance,
and adverse l
impacts to cultural and
historic resources.
19) The proposed trail
layout does not impact
trails of national,
statewide or regional
significance.
20) The ORV Facility
Management Plan includes
a monitoring and
response system designed
to detect and correct
adverse environmental
impacts.
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